Walls Wellness

Those who think they have not the time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness. -Edward Stanley

Despite Physical Education, as well as recess, children (and teachers) are left with long periods of physical inactivity throughout the school day. Research shows that cognitive function is increased by the stimulating effects of exercise. It may even improve behavior in some students. By incorporating short periods of classroom exercise, teachers can increase thinking, memory, concentration, and motivation (http://primary-school-curriculum.suite101.com.) This website was designed to encourage a healthier, more fit school body. So in the words of Nike, “Just do it!”

Here is a list of activities that can easily be incorporated in the classroom:

CLASSROOM GAME IDEAS

EXERCISE/STRETCHING IDEAS

Gotcha

Beach Volley Ball

Keep It Up

The Wink Game

Juggling

Stress Balls

Jump Rope

Core Matrix

Get Up and Dance

The Twist

Miss Mary Mack

I spy

Twister

Bean Bag Fun

*Explanation of games below

Hip, Knee, Toes

Shoulder rotations- above head, arms out

Jumping jacks

Balance activities

Lunges

Sit-Ups

Push-Ups

Wall Sits

Chair dips

March in place

Abs: Squeeze/Release

Sit-Stand

Toe Taps on Chair

Explanation of Games:

Gotcha– Students all stand in a circle. Hold their right hand flat and their left hand with the pointer finger on the right hand of the person to their left. Play music. When the music stops, you are suppose to grab the persons finger with your right hand and at the same time pull your finger off of the person’s hand next to you.

Beach Volley Ball– Get a beach ball. Break the students into groups and play volley ball with the beach ball. I sometimes do girls vs boys, blond vs. brown hairs, people wearing red and pink vs. people wearing other colors, birthdays from Jan-June against, July-Dec, etc…

Keep It Up– Using the beach ball, have the students try to keep the ball in the air without having it drop to the ground.

The Wink Game– Have someone go out of the room. Select one student to be the winker. The winker will wink at students in the room. Once you get winked at, you have to put your head down on your desk (or sit down if you are standing). The student who was sent out of the room while you selected the winker will come back in and try to figure out who is the winker.

Core Matrix– Students sit on their legs (they are bent underneath them)and they lean backwards. They should feel the stress in the core of their body.